KOROR, Palau – The Peace Corps marked its official return to the Republic of Palau with a swearing-in ceremony in Koror today for nine volunteers—the first cohort to serve in the Pacific Island nation since 2018. The agency’s return after an eight-year absence reaffirms the longstanding partnership between the people of Palau and the United States.

President of Palau Surangel S. Whipps Jr. attended the event at the Ngatpang Community Center, joined by officials from the Palau Ministry of Education. Whipps welcomed the return of the Peace Corps, highlighting the profound impact volunteers have had on Palau’s education and community development since 1966.

“For generations, Peace Corps Volunteers have worked hand in hand with our local communities to build our education sector, protect our environment, and develop sustainable tourism. Today is truly a celebration of the revival of this partnership. Your focus on supporting English literacy and helping our local teaching force is exactly what our schools and our children need right now,” said President Whipps in his swearing-in ceremony address.

U.S. Embassy Koror’s Chargé d’Affaires Shankar Rao also delivered remarks saying, “These Peace Corps Volunteers will not only support communities across Palau but also deepen the enduring partnership between our two nations through mutual learning, respect and shared purpose.”

Over the next two years, the volunteers will work alongside Palauan educators to support English literacy learning in elementary schools. As the language of opportunity and commerce, English skills are fundamental to the country’s future economic growth and stability. In addition to supporting literacy and English language proficiency, volunteers will work on secondary projects that address community priorities such as food security, community health, environmental education and youth development.

While unable to attend the event, Peace Corps Acting Director Christopher Landau noted the importance of this renewed partnership saying, “The United States and Palau have close ties under our free association, and we view the re-establishment of the Peace Corps presence in Palau as an important step in deepening our partnership.”

“We look forward to witnessing these volunteers build on nearly 60 years of meaningful collaboration with Palauan partners to advance our nations’ shared priorities,” said Kris Besch, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Peace Corps, in her remarks at the ceremony. “These volunteers will share American culture and values with their host communities and make a meaningful impact for both Palau and America’s future.”

The volunteer cohort arrived in Palau in May and completed 10 weeks of intensive language, cultural, and technical training. They will live with host families throughout their two-year service. The Peace Corps is currently recruiting the next English literacy teacher volunteers for Palau who will begin pre-service training in April 2027.

Until 2018, the Peace Corps operated Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia as a single, unified program spanning both countries. During this period, more than 4,400 volunteers served alongside community members across the two Pacific Island nations. For more information on the Peace Corps in Palau, visit peacecorps.gov/palau.

Peace Corps volunteers collaborate with community members on locally-prioritized projects, gaining skills and experience while fostering mutual understanding and promoting American values. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit peacecorps.gov/serve to learn more about the Peace Corps and apply for service.